Scot McKnight gives some excerpts from an author named Andrew Root on the use of Bonhoeffer with youth. Root recommends taking some of Bonhoeffer’s essential ideas and utilizing them in discipling youth. (More HERE)

He also gives a sober warning:

It is possible that much of North American youth ministry is actually the perpetuation of cheap grace; it is the arm of the church that offers the “idea” of Christianity to the young. Bonhoeffer may tell us if he were with us today that the problem with youth ministry is that it is addicted to cheap grace. It has been so captivated by the “idea” of Christianity, by the idea of getting young people committed and excited about the institutional church, that it has given itself over almost completely to principles and programs. Just take stock of the most popular blogs and speakers at youth ministry conventions. Often these are not theologians or ministers but those in the business of ideation; they tell youth workers that they can create the next big idea, that Christianity is an idea and that if we can just break through, following the right principles, we can create programs of loyalty that stretch as deep as Apple and Gucci (177).

I was able to help with our youth group going to our denomination’s youth convention this year. Having a theme of “LIVE DEAD” and having two speakers who were missionaries in very dangerous areas of the world doesn’t scream: “IDEATION!” to me. For that, I am thankful. We need a more serious call to youth. We need a more concerted effort to guide and mentor and quit making them feel like the sun rises and falls on them.

Youth ministry is such a mixed bag, but I was grateful for so many things I witnessed at our youth convention. As another matter, I still think our “worship” lacks serious depth. But the theme of “LIVE DEAD” and the challenge of two incredibly dedicated missionaries was not a “typical” youth event. Far from it.

The key at any age is we need to move away from cheap grace and show people there is a cross to confront and move through. We all have to come to the cross. We all have to understand the seriousness of following Christ. And the younger we have people understanding this, the better off we are as the Church in America.